Wildfires

Day 288: Smoke from two wildfires on the east side of the Cascade Crest are affecting us here. Although the Park and areas west of it are still in the green as far as air quality is concerned, my eyes are watering and the Mountain's bulk is barely visible as a silhouette. The is partly obscured, casting a yellowish pall over the landscape even at high noon. The sunrise was ruddy. The two fires are "Black Canyon" (north) and "Retreat" (south), the former at almost 10,000 acres and 30% contained, the latter at 18,273 acres (not contained) and under "Go Now" evacuation from Bear Canyon northeast to the junction of Hwys 410/12. Additionally, the town of Tieton is under "Get Set" notification. Neither of these fires is close enough to present any danger of spreading to forests close to me, but the potential for deterioration in air quality is high.

A Brief Respite

Day 310: By mid-afternoon yesterday, the brief respite we had from wildfire smoke was in retreat against a new onslaught. Although the Mountain hadn't been clearly visible at any time in the previous 24 hours, you could at least distinguish glaciers from rocks, and that for the first time in two weeks. But as the saying goes, all good things come to an end. This morning once again, there is no Mountain on the horizon, only a blurry red disk rising in the east. I consider myself to be in good physical condition, yet the smoke in the air impairs my breathing, leaves me feeling tired, worn and, if the truth be told, not at full capacity mentally. On the other hand, I am grateful that it isn't worse. Ranger friends have been evacuated from both Yosemite and Glacier due to the wildfires there. As tinder-dry as the Pacific Northwest currently is, all it would take would be one lightning strike, one careless toss of a cigarette, one fool leaving a campfire smoldering, and we'd go up in a puff.